Pathogenicity of vibrio coli for swine. I. Experimental infection of gnotobiotic pigs with vibrio coli.

Fifteen gnotobiotic pigs varying in age from three to eight weeks were exposed to 23 strains of V. coli isolated from swine with clinical and/or pathological signs of swine dysentery and also from clinically healthy pigs. Clinical or pathological signs of swine dysentery were not produced, although the organism was readly established in the sedimentary tract. Culture of feces, alimentary tract and environment revealed V. coli in large numbers, but no bacterial growth was obtained from other organs. The histopathology and serology are discussed.